Patronal Feast and Birù Festival

The Patronal Feast and Birù Festival in Marcorengo

The Patronal Feast and Birù Festival is the most anticipated event of the year for Marcorengo, a small hillside hamlet in the municipality of Brusasco, in the province of Turin, at the gateway to the Piedmontese Monferrato. Organized by the Pro Loco Marcorengo APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Brusasco and the UNPLI, the festival traditionally takes place on the first weekend of September, combining the devotion of the patronal feast with the joy of a grand village celebration.

What is the Birù?

The term Birù, in the Piedmontese dialect, refers to the turkey and is also the nickname affectionately used for the inhabitants of Marcorengo. For over twenty years, the Pro Loco has built a signature menu around this bird: the famous Birulin Menu offers curious and tasty dishes such as birù agnolotti, marinated birù steak, meatballs, and cured meats, accompanied by side dishes and dessert. For those who prefer, a Grill Menu is also available, featuring charcoal-grilled meats, sausages, and skewers.

The Festival Program

The event spans three days of festivities. The gastronomic heart is the Birù Dinner, served under the covered pavilion, while the evenings are brought to life by live music with ballroom orchestras and entertainment. Highlights include:

• The Birù Dinner with Birulin Menu and Grill Menu (by reservation)
• Dance evenings with live orchestras
• The hillside walk, a roughly 9 km hike through the hilly trails, organized in collaboration with the Amici dei Sentieri association
• The religious moments of the patronal feast, including the Solemn Holy Mass

A festival in the heart of the hills

Immersed in the hills and vineyards that define this corner of Piedmont, Marcorengo offers a unique opportunity during the festival to discover a village rich in tradition, far from the main tourist circuits. The Birù Festival is an event that blends gastronomy, nature, faith, and community, attracting hundreds of people every year, including residents, former locals, and visitors from across the Brusasco area and the lower Monferrato.